Nesting basket cart



y 29, 1952 w. R. ALEXANDER 2,605,116

NESTING BASKET CART Filed Nov. 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

y 1952 w. R. ALEXANDER 2,605,116

NESTING BASKET CART Filed Nov. 6, 1950 :5 sheetg-S'neet 2 IN V EN TOR.

y 1952 w. R. ALEXANDER 2,605,116

NESTING BASKET CART 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1950 Patented July29, 1952 NES'TING BASKET CART Walker R. Alexaxnder, Battle Creek, Mich.,as-

.signor to United Steel &

Creek, Mich.

Wire Company, Battle Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,334

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in basket carts.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide .a basket cart which is well adapted for use inself-serve stores and markets and which, when not in use, may be quitecompactly nested with similar carts.

Second, to provide a basket cart which may be formed of relatively lightstock and atthe same time is strong and rigid and capable of carryingheavy loads and withstanding shocks.

Third, to provide a basket cart with a platform on which baskets or bagsof heavy objects may be conveniently placed and are'readily accessiblefor removal.

Fourth, to provide a structure of the class .described which is quiteeconomical to produce and at the same time is attractive in appearance.

Objects relating to details andeconomiesof the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of the carts ofmy invention in nested relation, one of the carts being shown in fulllines and the other in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged horizontal section on a line correspondingto line 22 of Fig. 1, one cart being shown in full lines and fragmentsof a second cart nested therewith being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on'a linecorresponding to line -33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing detailsof the mounting of the basket. 1 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a linecorresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing details of thebasketsupporting latch, the manipulation of the latch to releasingposition being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view with the basket in erectedposition.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the basket and one of thecombined keepers and stops thereof.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated are provided, these havingdownturned' front ends 6 secured to the upper sidesof theside members 3of the base frame I at 1 preferably'by welding. The rear ends of theseside bars-5 are fixedly secured to the front sides of the uprights, 4.Auxiliary uprights 8 are disposed --in parallelrelation to themainuprights '4 and'haverearwardly turned upper ends 9 fixedlysecured-at lllto-the main uprights. The lower ends of these uprights 8are fixedly secured to the upper sides of the base side members 5.

Bracing or stay plates ll-arepro-vided, .these being formed of sheetmetal and conformedto embrace portions of they base-side members.3,..the side bars 5 and the main and auxiliary uprights 4 and 6 beingfixedly secured to these partslby welds indicated =atl2. This provides avery rigid frame structure even when formed of relatively light stock. Ihave not in general indicatedthe welded joints between these frame partsother than the indication at l2, as welds of this 'type are wellunderstood in the art.

The base frame is provided with a cross bar l3 adjacent its front endwhich facilitates the attaching of the caster wheel forks Mto .the baseframe. Supporting forks for the rear carrying wheels I5 are secured tothe lower ends of the main uprights 4. It .will be noted that the baseis forwardly tapered as well as forwardlyQinclined. The purpose of thisis to permit the telescoping of one, base within another, as isindicatedin Figs. 1 and 2. .The base is provided with a fender i6 atitsfront end having rear-'- w'ardly curved arm ,l'l terminating'indownturned ends 18 disposed through the side member 3 of the baseframeand secured as-by means of the nuts 19.

I provide a platform which comprises spaced longitudinal bars 20 securedat their rear ends .to

a cross bar. 2| and at their front ends to. a cross bar 22 vmounted onthe front end .of' the base frame. The longitudinal platform barsare-provided with a connecting cross piece. 23. The longitudinal barshave upwardly offset portions 24 which serve as load retaining stops,the front ends of the offset 25 being extended downwardly-and secured tothe cross piece 22. This platform is adapted to receive a bag orbox ofproduce.

The basket designated generally by thenumeral 26 is downwardly taperedand is made. up of wire slats 2'! and spaced frame members 28. Thebasket is pivotally mounted at 29 to forwardly projecting arms 30secured to the uprights 4 and S, the basket being provided with pivotreceiving plates 3i which are positioned so that the basket when freeautomatically swings to a projecting portions 33, to which the handlebar 34 is secured by means of the tubular coupling members 35. Thesecoupling members are slotted to receive the latches 35 which are pivotedat 1 31 and provided with hand pieces 38 projecting forwardly andhook-like engaging portions 39 having curved faces ES to permitautomatic engagement of the keepers with the latches when the basket isswung to upright position. The latches are urged to engaging position bymeans of the springs 4 l When the baskets are in collapsed position asshown in Fig. 1, they are adapted to nest to a substantial extent, asilustrated in Fig. 1. When the carts are not in nested position, thebaskets may be easily swung to upright position and are I automaticallyengaged by the latches and retained in erected position. When thelatches are released, the baskets automatically swing to theirrearwardly facing or nesting position. The baskets illustrated are ofgenerally rectangular section, but they may be round if desired.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe otheradaptations or embodiments which I contemplate, as I believe thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention as may be desired. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a basket cart the combination of a forwardly tapered and forwardlyinclined U- shaped base frame disposed with its bight end forwardly,main uprights fixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members ofsaid base frame, base'side bars having down-turned front ends secured tosaid base frame adjacent but in rearwardly spaced relation to its frontend, the rear ends of said side bars being fixedly secured to said mainuprights, said uprights having rearwardly inclined handle portionsconnected by a handle bar which constitutes across member therefor,auxiliary uprights disposed in forwardly spaced relation relative tosaid main uprights and having their lower ends secured to said side barsand having rearwardly turned upper ends secured to said main uprights,bracing and connecting corner brackets welded to the rear ends of saidbase and side bars and to the lower ends of said main and auxiliaryuprights, a cross bar secured to the under side of said base frameadjacent its front end, caster wheels connected to said base frame atthe ends of said cross bar, rear carrying wheels secured to the lowerends of said main uprights, a platform comprising a rear cross barmounted on said main uprights and a front cross bar mounted on theforward end of said base frame, and a plurality of laterally spacedforwardly inclined bot tom bars secured at their rear ends to said rearcross bar and having upward offsets adjacent their front ends to providestops, said bottom bars in front of said offsets being downwardlyinclined and secured to said front cross bar, a fender disposed in frontof the front ends of said platform bottom bars and having rearwardly jrearwardly facing horizontal position as shown 4 curved endsconstituting guards for said caster wheels and secured to the sidemembers of said base frame, and forwardly projecting basket supportingarms mounted on the inner sides of said main and auxiliary uprights, anda basket tiltably mounted on said arms.

2. In a basket cart the combination of a forwardly tapered and forwardlyinclined U-shaped base frame disposed with its bight end forwardly, mainuprights fixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members of saidbase frame, base side bars having down-turned front ends secured to saidbase frame adjacent but in rearwardly spaced relation to its front ends,the rear ends of said side bars being fixedly secured to said mainuprights, said uprights having rearwardly inclined handle portionsconnected by a handle bar which constitutes a cross member therefor,auxiliary uprights disposed in forwardly spaced relation relative tosaid main uprights and having their lower ends secured to said side barsand having rearwardly turned upper ends secured to said main uprights,bracing and connecting corner brackets welded to the rear ends of saidbase and side bars and to the lower ends of said main and auxiliaryuprights, a cross bar secured to the under side of said base frameadjacent its front end, caster wheels connected to said base frame atthe ends of said cross bar, rear carrying wheels secured to thelowerends of said main uprights, a platform comprising a rear cross barmounted on said main uprights and a front cross bar mounted on theforward end of said base frame, and a plurality of laterally spacedforwardly inclined bottom bars secured at their rear ends to said rearcross bar and having upward offsets adjacent their front ends to providestops, said bottom bars in front of said offsets being downwardlyinclined and secured to said front cross bar, a fender disposed in frontof the front ends of said platform bottom bars and havin rearwardlycurved ends constituting guards for said caster wheels and secured tothe side members of said base frame.

3. In a basket cart the combination of a forwardly tapered and forwardlyinclined U-shaped base frame disposed with its bight end forwardly, mainuprights fixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members of saidbase frame, base side bars having downturned front ends secured to saidbase frame adjacent but in rearwardly spaced re lation to its front end,the rear ends of said side bars being fixedly secured to said mainuprights, said uprights having rearwardly inclined handle portionsconnected by a handle bar which consti ,tutes a cross member therefor,auxiliary uprights said base frame adjacent its front end, caster wheelsconnected to said base frame at the ends of said cross bar, rearcarrying wheels secured to the lower ends of said main uprights, aplatchars inxfrontl of saidkoffsets :beingdownwaaidly "inclined andsecuredirtoisaidifrontccross :bar.

4. .5111 -a basket :..cart :the scombinationz of .::a afor- :wardly:tapered andtiforwardlyrinclined; U-esh'aped base: frame:idisposedwithits zbightz end for-wardly,

; mainzuprightsfixedly securedrto :the: rear endszof the side members of:said bBiSBTfl'fidTlC, base side bars having :downturned front :ends.-"SCU.I'BC1 to .said base frameradjacent :butzin'vrearwardly spacedrelation to :its, front end, :'the -reariendszof said .side bars beingfixedly secured :tO -Said main uprights, said :uprightshaving rearwardlyinclined handle portions: connected by a :handle; bar which constitutes:a cross member atherefon-a auxailiary uprights disposed in, forwardly:spaced relaticn relative to saidmain :uprights ands having at the endsof said cross bar, and? rear. carrying Wheels secured to the lowerendsaof -saidamain uprights.

5. In a basket cart the combination of a forwardly tapered andforwardlyinclined U-shaped base frame disposed with'its bight endforwardly,

- main uprights fixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members ofsaid base frame, base side bars having.downturnediront'ends secured tosaidbase frame adjacent but in rearwardly spaced relation to itsfrontend, the rearendsof .said sidebars being fixedly secured tosaidmamuprights, said uprights'having rearwardly inclined .handle portionsconnected byahandle .bar whichconstitutes a cross .member gthere'for,auxiliary uprights disposed 'forwardlyspaced,

relation relative to said main uprights and having their lower endssecured to said side bars and having rearwardl turned upper ends securedto said main uprights, carrying wheels, a platform comprising a rearcross bar. mounted on said main uprights and a front cross bar mountedon the forward end of said base frame, and a plurality of laterallyspaced forwardly inclined bottom bars secured at their rear ends to saidrear cross bar and having upward offsets adjacent their front ends toprovide stops, said bottom bars in front of said offsets beingdownwardly inclined and secured to said front cross bar, a fenderdisposed in front of the front ends of said platform bottom bars andhaving rearwardly curved ends constituting guards for said caster wheelsand secured to the side members of said base frame. 1

6. In a basket cart the combination of a forwardly tapered and forwardlyinclined U-shaped base frame disposed with its bight end forwardly, mainuprights fixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members of saidbase frame, base side bars having downturned front ends secured to saidbase frame adjacent but in rearwardly spaced relation to its front end,the rear end of said side bars being fixedly secured to said mainuprights, said uprights having rearwardly inclined handle portionsconnected by a handle bar which constitutes a cross member therefor,auxiliary uprights disposed in forwardly spaced relation relative tosaid main uprights and having their lower ends secured to said side barsand having rearwardly turned upper ends secured to said main uprights,bracing and coni6 -nectine :corner brackets welded :to the rear :;endsof said :base .bars and side bars and:to the :lower ends of said-mainand auxiliary-uprights, caster wheels connected to said baseframerat-ftheifront ends thereof, grear carrying wheels secured to the.lower .endsof said-main uprightsya ipl'atform comprising a :rear :cross-;bar :mounted son. :said :main uprights and arfront crossbar-mountedjon the'forward end-of saidbase framepand :acplu- -rality-oflaterally :spaced bottom rbars :secured at their "rear -:ends to :saidrear cross tbarr'and having :upward offsets adjacent their front-ends--to1 provide stops, said: bottom ".bars .in ::front of said:oifsetsbeing downwardlyv inclined andse- 2 1 5 cured to "said front:crossi'bar.

1.7. :In a basketacart the combination of :a forwardlyitapered :an'dforwardly :inclined ..U shaped rbasezframezdisposed' with its bight. endfor-war'dly, mainwuprights' fixedlyxsecurediothe rear ends of .the :side:"members :of "said :base frame; base side barsxdisposed in:verticallycspace'drelation 1 above .the sidemember of :saidframeand'havingdown- "turned :front ends dispose'd. upon and secured "to theupper side of said base frame adjacent .25 butiin rearwardlyspaced:relation to its front upper ends abutting :rand secured-to'-.the'.'front v sides; of; said ;main uprights, bracing and con--necting :corner :brackets disposed on the .outer sides of and welded to"the rear .endsnof :said base bars and side bars and to'zthealower'iends 40 .of .said main and auxiliary 'uprights, caster wheelsconnected to said base frame at the front ends thereof, rear carryingwheels secured to the lower ends of said main uprights. 8. In a basketcart the combination of a forwardly tapered and forwardly inclinedU-shaped base frame disposed with its bight end forwardly, main uprightfixedly secured to the rear ends of the side members of said base frame,base side bars having downturned front ends secured to said base frameadjacent but in rearwardly spaced relation to its front end, the rearend of said side bars being fixedly secured to said main uprights, saiduprights having rearwardly inclined handle portions connected by ahandle bar which con- 5 stitutes a cross member therefor, auxiliaryuprights disposed in forwardly spaced relation relative to said mainuprights and having their lower ends secured to said side bars andhaving rearwardly turned upper ends secured to said 0 main uprights,bracing and connecting corner brackets welded to the rear ends ofsaidbase bars and side bars and to the lower ends of said main and auxiliaryuprights, caster wheels connected to said base frame at the front ends05 thereof, rear carrying wheels secured to the lower ends of said mainuprights, forwardly projecting basket supporting arms mounted on theinner sides of said main and auxiliary uprights, a basket taperedtowards its bottom pivotally mounted between said arms and balanced onits pivots to normally swing to a rearwardly facing position, saidbasket being provided with laterally projecting keepers constitutingstops engageable with said main uprights when the basket is inhorizontal position, and spring biased latches uprights fixedly securedto the rear ends of the side members of said base frame, said uprightshaving a handle at their upper ends, carrying wheels for said base frameincluding caster wheels mounted at the front end thereof, a platformcomprising a plurality of'laterally spaced forwardly inclined bottombarshaving upward offsets adjacent their front ends to provide stops, afender disposed in front of the front ends of said platform bottom barsand having rearwardly projecting ends constituting guards for saidcaster wheels and secured to the side members of said base frame,forwardly projecting basket support- .ing arms on said uprights, abasket tapered towards its bottom pivotally mounted between said armsand balanced on its pivots to normally swing to a rearwardly facingposition, and spring biased latches mounted on said uprights toautomatically engage the basket when it is swung to erected position.

l0. Ina basket cart the combination of a base frame, uprights fixedlysecured to the rear end of said base frame, said uprights having ahandle at their upper ends, carrying wheels for said base frame,forwardly projecting basket supporting arms on said uprights, a baskettapered towards its bottom pivotally mounted between said arms andbalanced on its pivots to normally swing to a rearwardly facingposition, and spring biased latches mounted on said uprights toautomatically engage the basket when it is swung to erected position.

11. In a basket cart the combination of a wheeled base frame, uprightsat the rear end of said base frame, said uprights having a handleportion at their upper ends, carrying wheel for said frame, forwardlyprojecting basket supporting arms on said uprights, a basket taperedtowards its bottom pivotally mounted between said arms and balanced onits pivots to normally swing to a rearwardly facing position, saidbasket being provided with laterally projecting keepers constitutingstops engageable with said uprights when the basket is in horizontalposition, and spring biased latches mounted on the uprights toautomatically engage said keepers when the basket is swung to erectedposition.

12. In a basket cart the combination of a wheeled base frame, uprightsat the rear end of said base frame, said uprights having a handleportion at their upper ends, carrying wheels for said frame, forwardlyprojecting basket supporting arms on said uprights, a basket taperedtowards its bottom pivotally mounted between said arms and balanced onits pivots to normally swing to a rearwardly facing position, and springbiased latches mounted on the uprights to automatically engage saidbasket when the basket is swung to erected position.

WALKER R. ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

